The way we've been playing I'll be happy with a split with Rays and with the other teams the rest of the year, provided the Rays also split. Need the Yankees, since it seems they are going to win the division, to do us a favor & take at least 4 out of 7 in their series with Tampa.

2-2 I think we'll see a little something from Weiland. Just needs to stay away from the walks.Posted by Joebreidey

Yup, the problem with walks---and today was a perfect example as we were leading 4-2 and give up 2 walks in the 8th. Now, we can't nibble to risk another walk and the opponents know we need come down the middle so can look for a fat pitch !!!

Monday morning quaterback I know but with a 2 run lead, make sure you don't walk anyone & let the batter hit. If he gets a hit, so be it but at least there's a chance they'll be an out. With a walk there is no chance !!!

The way we've been playing I'll be happy with a split with Rays and with the other teams the rest of the year, provided the Rays also split. Need the Yankees, since it seems they are going to win the division, to do us a favor & take at least 4 out of 7 in their series with Tampa.Posted by mandobello

Surely they will do their best to take at least 4 out of 7. I am sure they would much rather face us rather than TB in the post season. Forget the regular season record that was built with a different Red Sox team.

2-2 I think: L, W, W, L. Wakefield might get lucky and get that last one. But even so, 2-2 is ok. With the Rays losing tonight, it'd drop the magic # to 7 with 10 to play, down to 5 if Wake can get lucky.

In Response to Re: Rays Series: Predictions/Thoughts : Surely they will do their best to take at least 4 out of 7. I am sure they would much rather face us rather than TB in the post season. Forget the regular season record that was built with a different Red Sox team.Posted by tetonman50

NYY will do what suits NYY. They don't care about us one way or the other. They'll do what puts them in the best position. I'll go out on a limb now, NYY will not win the World Series this year.

Not too far out on that limb are you? The Yankees are the weakest of all the teams when it comes to starting pitching and the strongest when it comes to hitting. The old adage will prevail - Good pitching shuts down good hitting everyday. Yankees have no chance to win WS.

Defensively I would prefer to see Aviles at third and Lowrie at first and give AGon and Youk a day to heal a bit. If Papi's not ready, go with Lavarnway for another day or two. Move CC into the three slot.

Perhaps we might get two great efforts from Weilland and Wake with Lester feeling the need to make up for his poor performance last week. Who knows about Beckett--

I would give Bard the weekend to get things together.

My suggestion would be to slide Aceves into Bard's 8 th inning slot for the weekend with Atch and Morales in the 7 th. It's desperation time--the starters need to all give at least 6 innings.

We can end this with a sweep. Clearly they have the pitching edge and the desire to stay in the hunt. I would say we lose tonight but then we get stellar performances from Josh, Jon, and Timmy to take 3 of 4.

Obviously , this is the biggest series of the year. Let's hope the Sox give it everything they have in them. Need good at -bats. Pitchers throwing strikes. (Tired of seeing our starters in early pitch count trouble and spotting the opponent an early lead.) Solid defense. No more rest days. All hands on deck. And that includes Papi , AGon and Youk. With a maximum effort , we can take three out of four and pretty much wrap up the wild card.

In Response to Re: Rays Series: Predictions/Thoughts : NYY will do what suits NYY. They don't care about us one way or the other. They'll do what puts them in the best position. I'll go out on a limb now, NYY will not win the World Series this year.Posted by TheExaminer

I can agree with that but the Sox certainly aren't going to win the WS either. They have a lot of holes for a team that was supposed to win it all.

Don't know what to expect, wouldn't be entirely surprised by a sweep either way, but I'm thinking split, which would almost be enough to get us to October (thanks to the Orioles); I'm thinking Weiland's going to have a decent outing.